Enhanced Skills Program: Clinician Scholar
The overall objective of the Clinician Scholar Program (CSP) is to provide residents with adequate knowledge, training, and experience to enable them to pursue careers as clinician investigators (i.e. co-investigators/collaborators).
The CSP will be tailored to meet the learning objectives of the resident. The following 3 options currently exist for completing the CSP:
- 1 year PGY3 (for those who already have a research master’s degree)
- 1 year PGY3 (which includes the master’s degree MScCH(FCM)
- 2 year PGY3-PGY4* (which includes the completion of a research master’s degree with thesis)
Program Director:
Dr. Liisa Jaakkimainen
Director, Clinician Scholar Program
2075 Bayview Avenue, A120
Toronto, ON M4N 3M5
(416)480-4055 x 3868
Length of Program: One to two years full-time depending on which of the three options is selected (see three options above).
Program and Application Eligibility
For information on funding eligibility, please refer to Admissions section on the main Enhanced Skills Program page. Applicant must be a Canadian Citizen.
*Funding for possible candidates will be pre-arranged through the Department of Family and Community Medicine and MOH salutations.
N.B.: Those enrolled in a PGY3 Enhanced Skills Program at the time of application are NOT eligible to apply to another PGY3 Enhanced Skills position.
Curriculum Competencies
The CanMEDs roles that are focused on in the CSP are:
- Medical Expert
- Communicator
- Collaborator
- Leader
- Health Advocate
- Scholar
- Professional
For complete details, please read the key objectives of the CSP in CanMeds format.
Sample Rotation
20% Clinical / 80% Research (based on a one-year CSP)
Unique Program Requirements
- Complete a master's degree (for those without a relevant research master's degree)
- Complete a major research project or thesis
- Participation in the Royal College Clinician Investigator Program Seminar series
- Obtain mentorship from a family medicine researcher
- Submit a manuscript as first author for publication in a peer-reviewed journal
- Submit an abstract for an oral presentation at a national or international conference
- Submit an abstract for an oral presentation at the DFCM Research Rounds and/or the DFCM Conference
- Attend bi-monthly DFCM Research Rounds
- Attend the DFCM Conference
- Co-investigator on a grant application
- Complete the Enhanced Skills Leadership Course
- Supervisory role on family medicine resident academic projects
Enhanced Skills Program (PGY3) - 2027-2028 Call for Applications: Clinician Scholar
Application Process:
Application deadline has been extended to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026.
Interested applicants should submit the following documents to Valerie Hilderal at fammed.enhanced@utoronto.ca
Completed Application Form.
Letter of Intent (addressed to the Program Director of the program of choice) addressing objectives and motivations for pursuing additional training.
Current CV
Copy of your medical degree
Three (3) letters of reference, one of which must be from your residency Site Director. All letters should be sent directly to the email address above by referees.
After submission of the application, programs will engage in a file review and extend interview offers.
The successful applicant for the Clinician Scholar program will be notified of admission by November 13, 2026.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact: Dr. Liisa Jaakkimainen - liisa.jaakkimainen@utoronto.ca